Plot: Child genius Tanisu and his four older siblings were raised by mad scientists on an isolated island. When their parents are arrested for the experiments they were running on the four older siblings, the children are moved to another island and must learn to get by in normal society. (B-)

Characters: Most are decently developed, but not enough for you to get invested. (B-)

Artwork & Animation: B

Voice Acting: B

Music: C

Objectionable Content: mild

Other: This series starts out as a fluffy, harmless, slice-of-life story, basically focusing on how the kids interact with each other and the outside world. You get glimpses of its darker side throughout the show, but nothing is explained in depth. The climax of the show is also half-baked (and kind of ridiculous).

My biggest complaint aside from the ending is that a substantial chunk of each episode is wasted on recaps and voice actor interviews. Now, I normally have no problem with VA interviews, but they shouldn't take up almost half of the show's allotted runtime.

Plot: Saiki Kusuo seems to be an average and unremarkable teenager, but the truth is that he has ESP. Can he survive high school without blowing his cover or causing a disaster? (Basically summed up as "The misadventures of a teenager with superpowers." Nothing remarkable as far as an overarching plot goes. -- C)

Characters: The highlight of the show. Over-powered Saiki can be bribed with his favorite dessert, Kaido is a delusional dork with a heart of gold, and Nendo is...Nendo. XD -- B+

Artwork & Animation: Simplistic; not great, but not bad. B-

Voice Acting: B

Music: C

Objectionable Content: some sexually suggestive material, profanity

Other: This is a fast-paced comedy with some stupid and hilarious gags (and the characters all talk a mile a minute). There are a lot of 4th-wall-breaking references to manga and anime, including the show's source material. While some comedies suffer from having a character/characters constantly being the butt of the joke, this one avoids that pitfall, which makes it all the more fun. (I did not enjoy Toritsuka, though, and skipped the episodes that centered on him.)

Plot: In the future, the world is barren and overrun by creatures called Klaxosaurs. Children are raised to learn how to combat the klaxosaurs with powerful machines known as Franxx.

Code 016, AKA Hiro, has fallen behind his peers and is now unable to pilot the Franxx. Just when he is about to lose all hope, a mysterious girl with horns, known as Zero Two, appears. (Starts off with promise that goes unfulfilled -- C)

Characters: B

Artwork & Animation: A

Voice Acting: A

Music: A

Objectionable Content: sexual themes, blood

Other: Mechs that you have to pilot with a partner + an intriguing futuristic world = good, right? ... Well... The piloting system for the mechs themselves is pretty ridiculous and fan-service-laden. The promise of an interesting backstory kept me watching, but this became more and more sexualized as it progressed. The world-building and plot also made less and less sense as the story unfolded. Basically, the strong points in this series are the art/animation and the characters.

Plot: The war that ravaged Telesis for four years has finally ended. A girl named Violet, who was infamous as an emotionless weapon during the war, must now settle into civilian life. Taken in by a former comrade of her commanding officer, Major Gilbert Bougainvillea, she joins the CH Postal Company as an auto memory doll -- one who writes on behalf of others. As she learns how to understand and convey the feelings of others, she will also have to confront feelings of her own on her quest to understand the last words the major said to her. (A)

Characters: A-

Artwork & Animation: Gorgeous art, backgrounds and effects are especially stunning. Apparently, this is a test for a new animation technique/software, and the staff shows it off. (A)

Voice Acting: A

Music: A

Objectionable Content: blood

Other: Adapted from a light novel. Violet Evergarden is a beaut' to look at, and though it starts out slow, the story does not disappoint. Have your handy box o' Kleenex ready for the second half of this show -- one episode in particular triggered my Clannad Afterstory PTSD.

Plot: To groom his youngest sons to be suitable for the throne, the king of Grannzreich hires Heine Wittgenstein on as the royal tutor. The tiny teacher has his job cut out for him, as the four princes have chased out every instructor who's come before him. Will Heine be able to earn the princes' respect and help them become worthy heirs to the throne? (B)